Airbnb rental scams can ruin your summer vacation — here are 4 ways to protect yourself
Enjoy your stay — away from these con artists.
Airbnb scams are becoming increasingly common — and one travel expert is warning how to tell if you’re at risk.
The horror stories seem to be everywhere, these days — the United Kingdom family who lost $5,000 over a phony stay, pricey Hamptons homes that have been listed by scammers ahead of summer rental season, and the West Coast real estate speculator who conjured up a web of fake identities to illicitly double-book dozens of shoddy properties across the country in a $7M scheme, according to court documents.
Stefan Hoffelner, owner of the rental company YourAirHost, says it’s easy to figure out that a property or a host are not what they seem to be, once you know what to look for.
When contacted by The Post, a spokesperson for Airbnb said that “Issues like this on Airbnb are rare.”
“We continually invest in strengthening our defenses through measures like listing verification, and we protect guest bookings through safeguards like our secure payment processes, policies and Aircover support,” they continued.
In any case, here are the steps a safe traveler should take before booking, according to Hoffelner.
Read the reviews
Checking out a host’s profile is the first step in feeling out if they are authentic, Hoffelner told The Independent. Not seeing a verified badge is a quick red flag, but more details are typically sussed out in their reviews.
“Make sure to review the host’s profile for feedback from previous guests,” he said.
“A lack of reviews, or reviews that seem overly positive or generic, might be a sign of a scam. Look out for a consistent pattern of reviews left over a period of time. Lots of reviews made in quick succession might be fabricated.”
Research photos
Just like a dating profile, pictures of a location or property can be phony and turn your dream vacation into an catfishing trip. Like reviews, anything a little too perfect or generic is a warning sign.
Hoffelner suggests doing a reverse image search to see if they appear in other locations.
“If the same pictures appear on different websites or listings, this is a red flag.”
Communicate with the host first
It’s important to ask a host a few questions about the listing ahead of time. This will not only address concerns but will also give a renter a better understanding of who they are dealing with.
If a host comes back with shady responses or asks of their own, chances are you caught a scam in time.
“If a host makes an unusual request such as providing personal information or payment details outside of Airbnb, be wary,” Hoffelner advises.
He also stressed that booking through third-party services does not allow you the chance to get money back from Airbnb in the case of scams. That can only be done through the app.
Be realistic
Like most things when abroad or away from home, don’t get sucked into something that appears to be of unimaginable quality.
“If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Suspiciously low prices or luxurious amenities offered at a fraction of the usual cost are often signs of a scam,” said Hoffelner.
“If something feels off about the listing or with the host’s communication, trust your instincts and find a better alternative.”
